Entry

Retro Look, Feel and Fun of the Hipstamatic iPhone Toy Camera App

Date

Tuesday, 12 January, 2010

ContentThe Hipstamatic was an inexpensive plastic camera produced in 1982-4 in Wisconsin, USA. There were only ever 157 of its 100 model produced, so I'm unsure how it has garnered the devotion and attention of a pair of iPhone app developers. However, it has spawned off the Hipstamatic app, and unleashed a new generation of Hipstamaniacs, me included, judging by the fantastic feedback and results it has given.

After taking over 20,000 digital photos with my Nikon in the last 12 months, I'd like to forgive myself for feeling a little photo-ed out and I was recently considering going back to basics with analogue photography.

I thought about experimenting with Lomo cameras, but was luckily put off by the cost by eventually getting a much cheaper plastic twin lens reflex camera in the shape of the Gakkenflex - a model that comes in kit form and which you have to put together yourself. Great for understanding how the mechanics work.

Then I tried out the Hipstamatic app and fell in love with the effects generated by mixing and matching the lens, film and flash accessories. Although a little cumbersome, using the app results in photos which are sometimes a little unpredictable, but entirely what I was after from using a physical toy camera.

I had previously looked at various iPhone apps that had surfaced but was unimpressed with the "effects" that were on offer to spice up the iPhone's picture taking capabilities.

However, I can't recall if any of them allowed the user to customise the "camera" accessories, increasing the available effects, and the fact that the app relates to a real-life product is a bonus.

The only downside to Hipstamatic is that the results are quite low-res, limited by the iPhone's photographic hardware, but purists might argue that this becomes part of the appeal.